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Woodland Park community grieving after teen killed in fatal wreck

The community of Woodland Park is grieving after a morning wreck kills a teenager and sends two others to the hospital. It happened just west of Woodland Park off of Highway 24 right in front of the Pikes Peak Regional Hospital.

We spoke to teens at Woodland Park High School about how they're handling this tragedy.

"Everyone is just in the library crying their eyes out, he had so many friends and so many people care about the family," said Garrett Leute. Leute and Tyler Didde say the crash Friday morning that killed 15-year-old Kevin McDonald from Divide has their entire school in shock.

"It's just sad ..It's just taken a toll on everybody I think," said Didde. Leute and Didde are freshmen at Woodland Park High School along with Kevin's 14-year-old sister who was the front seat passenger. Both she and the 17-year-old driver suffered minor injuries.

The crash happened when the three were traveling to school and 60-year-old Laverne Benner was turning left into Pikes Peak Regional Hospital.

"They collided at the intersection at that point, and it sent the jeep into the light poll that you see right behind me that controls the traffic signal," said Sgt. J.R. Mullins. Sgt. Mullins with Colorado State Patrol says after the jeep collided with the poll it hit a nearby electrical box. Kevin McDonald was pronounced dead at the hospital shortly after the crash.

"I knew that he had the world going for him, he could do anything he wanted if he wanted to," said Garrett Leute. "Straight-A student, got everything going for him in life," added Tyler Didde. The classmates say their thoughts and prayers go out to the family.

"It's sad to see a kid like that go because you know he could change the world," said Leute.

At this time no charges have been filed.

The state patrol continues to investigate and are asking any witnesses to come forward.

In the meantime, the Woodland Park School District will provide grief counselors at the school Saturday and Sunday to help kids work through their loss.

The Woodland Park School District also say that with heavy hearts and deep sadness, they are mourning the loss of Kevin McDonald.